The 'nepo baby' allegations are always going to hinder someone trying to make an earnest effort at a career. Oftentimes, it takes away from the journey that got you there. Even though you may have a prestigious last name or come from a well off family, it doesn't guarantee that you get everything you want. It certainly helps, there's no denying that. However, someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger's son Patrick knows firsthand what it means to get rejected. It didn't matter if his intentions were good or he shared last names with his pops.
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Patrick Schwarzenegger Shrugs Off Nepotism Claims
Recently, Schwarzenegger spoke with the Sunday Times to promote his role in season three of The White Lotus. There, he discusses his upbringing in acting and how it didn't inherently open doors for him. Instead, Patrick details all the trying times studios turned him down. Moreover, he recalls the frustration that comes with being told you're not enough. "I know there are people who'll say I only got this role because of who my dad is," he affirms. "They're not seeing that I've had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I've been on. Of course, it's frustrating and you can get boxed in and you think at that moment, I wish I didn't have my last name. But that's a small moment.
Regardless of the heartache in his work, Patrick doesn't wish he was someone else. Rather, he remains as grateful as ever for his family. It's the values they instill in him to keep from being spoiled. "I would never trade my life with anyone," Schwarzenegger adds. "I'm very fortunate to have the life and family that I have, the parents I have and the lessons and values they've instilled in me."
